Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Rev. Jacob M. Oberholtzer[1]

Male 1800 - 1879  (78 years)


Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Jacob M. Oberholtzer 
    Prefix Rev. 
    Born 30 Mar 1800  , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
    Gender Male 
    Land Bef 1831  Waterloo Township - German Company Tract Lot 035S, Waterloo County, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location  [7
    Occupation 1852  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [8
    farmer 
    Occupation 1852  Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo, Ontario Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Minister 
    • Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929).1a

      1aAmbrose, Rosemary. Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide to Churches Established Before 1900. Kitchener, Ontario, Canada: Waterloo-Wellington Branch, Ontario Genealogical Society, 1993. [used the kind permission of Rosemary Ambrose 2011]
    Occupation 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Farmer 
    Residence 1861  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [5
    Mennonite 
    Occupation 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Farmer 
    Residence 1871  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [6
    Mennonite 
    Eby ID Number 00086-5044 
    Died 14 Jan 1879  Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 2, 3
    Buried First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  [9
    Person ID I6191  Generations
    Last Modified 12 May 2024 

    Father John Oberholtzer,   b. Abt 1770, Of, Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Mother Susannah Moyer,   b. Abt 1770, Of, Montgomery Co. Pennsylvania Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown 
    Family ID F2311  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Hannah Erb,   b. 25 Jan 1813, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 12 Nov 1894, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 81 years) 
    Married 9 Jan 1831  [1, 2, 3, 5, 6
    Children 
     1. Catharine Oberholtzer,   b. 24 Sep 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Sep 1831, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     2. Julia Ann Oberholtzer,   b. 18 Aug 1832, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 18 Aug 1832, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     3. John Oberholtzer,   b. 20 Jul 1833, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Jun 1895, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 61 years)
     4. Deacon Abraham Oberholtzer,   b. 30 Nov 1834, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 Aug 1917  (Age 82 years)
     5. Susannah Oberholtzer,   b. 17 Sep 1836, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 25 Jun 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 3 years)
     6. Isaac Oberholtzer,   b. 24 May 1838, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Feb 1887, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 48 years)
     7. Jacob E. Oberholtzer,   b. 24 Jan 1840, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bridgeport (Kitchener), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location
     8. Salome Oberholtzer,   b. 8 Mar 1842, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 23 Jan 1858, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 15 years)
     9. Elizabeth Oberholtzer,   b. 23 Sep 1844, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 6 Apr 1889, Howick Twp., Huron Co., Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 44 years)
     10. Hannah Oberholtzer,   b. 28 Sep 1846, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 30 Oct 1874, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 28 years)
     11. Marian Oberholtzer,   b. 19 Oct 1848, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 8 Jun 1849, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 0 years)
     12. Lydia Oberholtzer,   b. 3 May 1850, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 13 Sep 1945, Palatine, Cook, Illinois, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 95 years)
     13. Magdalena Oberholtzer,   b. 26 Jul 1853, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 15 May 1892  (Age 38 years)
     14. Henry Erb Oberholtzer,   b. 4 Mar 1855, Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 24 Mar 1923, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 68 years)
     15. Fanny Oberholtzer,   b. 1856, , Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Yes, date unknown
    Last Modified 13 May 2024 
    Family ID F1021  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • Jacob M. Oberholtzer, "was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, March 30th, 1800. He came to Canada in 1826 and settled in Waterloo County, Ontario. On January, 9th, 1831, he was married to Hannah, daughter of Jacob and Salome (Graybill) Erb. She was born January 25th, 1813 and died November 12th, 1894. Soon after their marriage they moved two miles west of Berlin on their farm, then all forest, which was composed of part of lot No. 35, German Company's Tract. Here they resided some forty years, then he sold the farm and moved to Berlin where he and his aged wife spent the evening of their life in comfort and ease. When a young man he was ordained as a minister of the church of his choice, 'The Mennonite', which body he served faithfully unto his end. He died January 14th, 1879. His family consisted of fourteen children"


      Eby, Ezra E. (1895). A biographical history of Waterloo township and other townships of the county: being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin: as also much other unpublished historical information chiefly of a local character. Berlin [Kitchener, Ont.]: [s.n.].

      ___________________________

      Erb Street (David Eby) Mennonite Church

      Early services which began around 1837 were held in private homes. Land at the corner of Erb Street and Hallman Road, where the present-day cemetery is located, was donated by David Eby Sr. on July 14, 1851; a red brick church known as David Eby's Church was built in the same year. The first minister in the new church was Jacob M. Oberholtzer who served from 1852 to 1874. He was followed by Elias Schneider (1874-1889), Jonas Snider (1892-1900), Newton Weber (1921-1923), and Noah Hunsberger (1923-1929).

      Due to a difference of opinion in the David Eby congregation, Sunday School classes were held at first in a private home, that of Levi Groff, beginning in 1887. The dissension which resulted culminated in a division in the church in 1889; the minister, Elias Schneider, and the deacon, Menno S. Shantz, left the church and joined with the Old Order Mennonites of Woolwich Township. The following year, 1890, saw the commencement of "Edification Meetings", which were held in the homes of members of the David Eby congregation. These meetings later became the Young People's Bible Meetings.

      By the beginning of the twentieth century, it was recognized that the church building was either in need of repair or in need of complete replacement. Consideration was given to building a new church on the same site or on a site on King Street North. A decision was made to accept from Samuel S. Snider the donation of a parcel of land which was also on Erb Street, but nearer town. Excavation of the foundation for the new church began in the Spring of 1902. A dedication service was held on August 17, 1902. A parsonage was built in 1929 on land donated by Herbert Snider, the son of Samuel Snider. The church building was renovated and enlarged in 1949-1950; a dedication service was held on April 9, 1950. Further renovations were made in 1974..


      Waterloo County Churches A Research Guide To Churches Established Before 1900
      By Rosemary Ambrose

  • Sources 
    1. [S3] Book - Vol I A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 636.

    2. [S10] Book - Vol II A Biographical History of Waterloo Township and other townships of the county : being a history of the early settlers and their descendants, mostly all of Pennsylvania Dutch origin..., 142.

    3. [S33] Bible - Oberholtzer, Jacob.

    4. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 21.
      Jacob M. OBERHOLZER Farmer Birthplace: USA Age 52 Mennonite b. 31-Mar
      Hanah OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 36 Mennonite b. 25-Jan
      John OBERHOLZER Labourer Birthplace: Canada Age 19 Mennonite b. 20-Jul
      Abraham OBERHOLZER Labourer Birthplace: Canada Age 18 Mennonite b. 30-Nov Isaac OBERHOLZER Labourer Birthplace: Canada Age 14 Mennonite b. 24-May
      Jacob OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 13 Mennonite b. 25-Jan
      Salomea OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 10 Mennonite b. 8-Mar
      Elisabetha OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 8 Mennonite b. 24-Sep
      Hanah OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 6 Mennonite b. 28-Sep
      Lydia OBERHOLZER Birthplace: Canada Age 2 Mennonite b. 3-May
      Wilhelmina SCHNEIDER Birthplace: Germany Age 18 Evangelical b. 12-Oct

    5. [S1887] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1861 (North Division), Div 3 Page 14.

    6. [S514] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1871, Sect. 1 Page 42.

    7. [S1322] Land - Founding Families of Waterloo Township 1800-1830, 41.

    8. [S131] Census - ON, Waterloo, Waterloo Twp. - 1851, Div 4 Pg 21.

    9. [S47] Cemetery - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - First Mennonite CC#4507 Internet link First Mennonite Cemetery online.

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 30 Mar 1800 - , Montgomery Co., Pennsylvania Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - farmer - 1852 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Minister - 1852 - Erb Street Mennonite Church, Waterloo, Ontario Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Mennonite - 1861 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsOccupation - Farmer - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Mennonite - 1871 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 14 Jan 1879 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - First Mennonite Cemetery, Kitchener, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth